Zoology Commons^™

Genetic And Phylogenetic Divergence Of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus In The Puma (Puma Concolor), Margaret A. Carpenter, Eric W. Brown, Melanie Culver, Warren E. Johnson, Jill Pecon-Slattery, Dulce Brousset, Stephen J. O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus which causes an AIDS-like disease in domestic cats (Felis catus). A number of other felid species, including the puma (Puma concolor), carry a virus closely related to domestic cat FIV. Serological testing revealed the presence of antibodies to FIV in 22% of 434 samples from throughout the geographic range of the puma. FIV-Pco pol gene sequences isolated from pumas revealed extensive sequence diversity, greater than has been documented in the domestic cat. The puma sequences formed two highly divergent groups, analogous to the clades which have been defined for …

The Diet Of Oryzomys Palustris Based On Stomach Content Analysis, Shannon L. Wright

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Oryzomys palustris (Harlan) is unusual in that it is one of two carnivorous mammals in the Family Muridae in North America. A diet analysis of Oryzomys palustris. the marsh rice rat, was done based on stomach contents. This was accomplished by taking the animals from two study areas located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The animals were taken monthly for one year. Once caught, the animals were sacrificed and their stomach contents were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. This study showed that rice rats were omnivorous mammals, eating a variety of foods, including dicots, monocots, crabs, …

A Late Baird's Sandpiper In Keith County, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Nebraska Bird Review

On 23 December 1994, Gordon Brown and I were walking the North Platte River below Keystone Dam as part of the Lake McConaughy Christmas Bird Count (CBC). At approximately 8:30 a.m. MST, about 0.5 mi below the dam, we observed a group of 8 Killdeer and a smaller shorebird, which we immediately recognized as a "peep." We studied the bird for about 30 minutes at distances as close as 40 feet and then returned in the afternoon to photograph it. The size and black legs immediately eliminated Least Sandpiper, and the dark rump eliminated White-rumped Sandpiper. The remaining possibilities were …

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Annual Meeting 18 May 1996, Robin Harding

Nebraska Bird Review

The 1997 Annual Meeting will be held jointly with the South Dakota and Iowa Ornithologists' Unions in South Sioux City, NE 16-18 May.

Neal Ratzlaff, President, reported on several items. Funds are being sought to publish the Breeding Bird Atlas for Nebraska. The new NOU Field Cards of Nebraska Birds are ready for distribution. The Wildlife Diversity Funding Initiative is on hold because some companies are afraid of increasing their prices. NOU members were encouraged to urge Cabela's to support the Initiative. [See NBR 63 (3) 1995, p. 91 for details.]

A request was received from Fermata, Inc., which has …

A Review Of The Status Of Limnodromus Griseus, The Short-Billed Dowitcher, In Nebraska, Joel Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

The two North American dowitchers are notoriously difficult to distinguish from each other. This is not only true of field observations, but there are several instances where a specimen identified as one species was found to be the other upon review. Limnodromus scolopaceus, the Long-billed Dowitcher, has always been considered the common dowitcher in Nebraska, while Limnodromus griseus, the Short-billed Dowitcher, is less common. Confusion about identification and the lack of consistent, well-documented records have caused the status of L. griseus in Nebraska to be a matter of speculation.

Taxonomy of dowitchers was for some time confused. Studies …

Another Common Crane In Nebraska With A Summary Of North American Records, Gary Lingle

Nebraska Bird Review

On 30 March 1996 around 1000 h CST, Bob Janssen and Jim Williams of Minnetonka, Minnesota, discovered a Common Crane (Grus grus) feeding in corn stubble with a flock of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in Section 34 T9R10 Hall County, Nebraska. The Commom Crane associated with the Sandhill Cranes, which were at peak numbers in the Platte River valley. Later that day, several observers, including myself, witnessed the bird in section 32 about 500 yards away, where it mingled with a few hundred Sandhill Cranes. The difficulty in seeing this bird was illustrated by the fact …

Masthead And Table Of Contents Nebraska Bird Review 64(3) September 1996

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

A Review of the Status of Limnodromus griseus, the Short-billed Dowitcher, in Nebraska ……………..74

A Late Baird’s Sandpiper in Keith County ……………..79

Another Common Crane in Nebraska with a Summary of North American Records…………….. 80

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Annual Meeting 18 May 1996…………….. 82

NOU and NAMC Spring Bird Counts May 1996…………….. 83

Table of Bird Species Observed during NOU Annual Meeting 17-19 May 1996, and NAMC 11 May 1996 in Two Counties…………….. 84

Summer Field Report June-July 1996 ……………..90

Observers for Summer Field Report ……………..103

Summer Field Report, June-July 1996, W. Ross Silcock, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Starting with this report, Joel Jorgensen will write the reports for sub-passerines. Hopefully this will help with timeliness, especially in getting reports to the Regional Editor for Audubon Field Notes. It is a long process writing up especially the Spring and Fall reports, given the excellent number received.

Highlights in this report are rare loons at Lake McConaughy, three reports of Clark's Grebe, King Rail in Seward Co, Sandhill Cranes in Clay Co, Mountain Plovers in Kimball Co, easterly reports of Black-necked Stilt, first breeding record for Wilson's Phalarope in the Rainwater Basin, Brown Creeper in Sarpy Co, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 1996) 64(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

A Review of the Status of Limnodromus griseus, the Short-billed Dowitcher, in Nebraska ... 74

A Late Baird’s Sandpiper in Keith County ... 79

Another Common Crane in Nebraska with a Summary of North American Records … 80

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Annual Meeting 18 May 1996 ... 82

NOU and NAMC Spring Bird Counts May 1996 ... 83

Table of Bird Species Observed during NOU Annual Meeting 17–19 May 1996, and NAMC 11 May 1996 in Two Counties ... 84

Summer Field Report June–July 1996 ... 90

Observers for Summer Field Report … 103

Nou And Namc Spring Bird Count, May 1996

Nebraska Bird Review

Bird species seen in a Nebraska five-county area during the Annual Meeting of the Nebraska ornithologists' Union 17-19 May, are presented in Table 1 on pages 84-90. The total count was 161 species.

The table also includes data for the North American Migration count on 11 May in two Nebraska counties, Boone (compiler: Wayne Mollhoff, Ashland), and Sarpy (compiler: Betty Grenon, Bellevue). Observations in Boone Co. were made between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. with two observers for 6 hours and one observer for 3 hours. They covered 3 miles on foot for 6 hours and 40 miles by car …

A Recent Record Of Mountain Lion In Nebraska, Hugh H. Genoways, Patricia W. Freeman

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

On the morning of November 10, 1991, a deer hunter in the Pine Ridge area of extreme northwestern Nebraska shot a young female mountain lion (Gertzen, 1991, Omaha World-Herald, November 15, Sunrise ed. p. 17sf; Henion, 1991, Omaha World-Herald, November 15, Metro ed. p. 17). Although mountain lions (Felis concolor) were part of the original mammalian fauna of Nebraska (Jones, 1949, J. Mammal. 30: 313; 1962, Bull Univ. Nebraska State Mus. 4: 87-100; 1964, Univ. Kansas Publ., Mus. Nat. Hist. 16: 1-356), the species has been considered to be extirpated from the state. The most recent record that …

Whooping Crane Sightings During March-May 1996 Migration, Steven Anschutz

Nebraska Bird Review

A peak population of 158 whooping cranes (130 adult/subadult and 28 juvenile) was reported at the Aransas National wildlife Refuge in Texas during the winter of 1995-96. One juvenile was believed to have died between March 17 and 20, so 157 cranes began the spring migration, an increase of 24 birds over 133 in spring, 1995. By April 4, about 82 cranes had begun to migrate, and by April 25, only 9 cranes remained at Aransas. All but 2 of these had migrated by May 3. One of the two cranes migrated sometime after May 22, but the other bird …

Spring Field Report, March-May 1996, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was an interesting spring season, with something for everyone. Interesting data in terms of numbers are being produced by the North American Migration Count (NAMC), especially this spring in Sarpy County; examples are 499 Swainson's Thrushes, 76 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and 118 Black-and-white Warblers, and others. Some species appeared in large numbers such as 5,000 Western Grebes, 16 Clark's Grebes, 10,000 Wilson's Phalaropes, 300 each of Black-bellied Plover and Sanderling, 54 Whimbrels, and two flocks of over 100 Great-tailed Grackles.

Some interesting early and late dates are included in the species accounts, but several observers noted unexpected species such as …

Wanted: Information On Cliff Swallow Mortality, Charles R. Brown

Nebraska Bird Review

Cold and rainy weather during late May 1996 caused widespread mortality among Cliff Swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) in southwestern Nebraska. Thousands of birds died, and some local populations were reduced by at least half. I am trying to determine the geographic scope of the mortality event. I am also interested in determining how often kills like this occur. If you are aware of mortality among any hirundinids during spring 1996 in the central U.S. or ~ave recollections or records of other major Cliff Swallow die-offs ln any past years, please send details to me at the above address. Phone: …

Snowy Plovers In The Rainwater Basin, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Nebraska Bird Review

While conducting shorebird surveys in the Rainwater Basin of southcentral Nebraska in spring, 1995, I observed two Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus). Both sightings were on 6 May, one at the Kissinger Basin Wildlife Management Area in Clay County, and the other at Ayr Lake in Adams County.

When I arrived at Kissinger Basin WMA, the weather was poor with steady rain and strong, northeast winds. At 8:15 a.m. I noticed a pale plover feeding on the far side of the wetland. I noted the black bill and legs, dark auricular patch, and slender appearance, and I identified the bird as …

1994 (Sixth) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Joseph A. Gubanyi

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the NOU Records Committee are described in its bylaws (NOU Records Committee 1986). The committee's purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. The official list of birds was last published in 1988 (NOU Records Committee 1988) and has been appended three times (Mollhoff 1989, Grenon 1990 and Grenon 1991, Gubanyi 1996).

This report includes accounts submitted during the calendar year of 1994 covering records with accession numbers 359-395, 411, and 412. All records mentioned here will be available to interested …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1996) 64(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears for dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $12.50 in the United States, $15.00 in Canada and Mexico, and $17.50 for all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid, in the United states, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary H. Pritchard, NOU Librarian, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Nebraska Bird Review (June 1996) 64(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

1994 (Sixth) Report of the NOU Records Committee ... 38

Spring Field Report, March-May 1996 ... 42

Whooping Crane Sightings during March-May 1996 Migration ... 68

Snowy Plovers in the Rainwater Basin ... 71

Wanted: Information on Cliff Swallow Mortality ... 71

The Snakes Of The Taunton Local Fauna (Pliocene: Mid-Blancan) Of Adams County, Washington, Donald Edward Walker Ii

Biology Theses

The Taunton local fauna is located in Adams county Washington and is Blancan in age (2.85-2.95 ma). This site yielded three hundred sixty-five fossil snake vertebrae. Of these, one hundred ninety-nine were identifiable to genus and twenty-one were identifiable to species. Analysis of the Taunton's ophidian faunal composition provides two notable accounts in attempting to reconstruct Blancan snake faunas. First, is the occurrence of the fox snake, Elaphe vulpina. This is the only account of this species in the Pacific Northwest. This is important since the fox snake's present range is restricted to the upper Midwest United States. Second, …

Mammals Of The Mixedwood Plains Ecozone, Andrew Smith, Donald A. Smith

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Ontario and Quebec were totally covered with ice during the last glaciation. Deglaciation was followed by gradual post-glacial repopulation of these two provinces (and others) by mammals from source areas in the United States. Thus most range expansions were from south to north east of the Great Lakes.

The mammalian fauna of the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone has been steadily changing since deglaciation about 10 000 years ago. During this period a succession of species assemblages has moved through this ecozone as the climate warmed. Several of the larger mammal species known from this area became extinct during this period of …

Notes On Bats From Montserrat (Lesser Antilles) With Comments Concerning The Effects Of Hurricane Hugo, Scott C. Pedersen, Hugh H. Genoways, Patricia W. Freeman

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

From August 1993 to August 1994, bats were surveyed on Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. Four years after this small volcanic island was struck by Hurricane Hugo (1989), there remains a 20-fold decrease in bat populations as compared to levels before Hugo. After the hurricane, composition of the community shifted from smaller frugivorous species to one of more omnivorous and larger frugivorous species. With the addition of a new record for Sturnira thomasi, voucher specimens from Montserrat exist for ten species of Chiroptera: Noctilio leporinus, Monophyllus plethodon, Sturnira tkomasi, Chiroderma improvisum, Artibeus jamaicensis, Ardops nichollsi, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Natalus stramineus, Tadarida brasiliensis …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

Molecular Systematics Of The Fruit Bat, Artibeus Jamaicensis: Origin Of An Unusual Island Population, Dorothy E. Pumo, Iksoo Kim, James Remsen, Carleton J. Phillips, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

DNA sequences from mitochondrial tRNA genes, the light strand replication site, and a region of the 12s rRNA gene were used to test the hypothesis that the unusual Antillean island subspecies, Artibeus jamaicensis schwartzi, was derived from a South American origin. Parsimony and bootstraping analyses allied the mitochondrial genome in these bats with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) isolated from Artibeus planirostris living in French Guiana rather than with mtDNA isolated from Artibeus jamaicensis from the Antilles or Mexico. Although the tRNA sequences differed slightly, the 12s rRNA sequences were identical in mtDNA isolated from A. j. schwartzi on St. Vincent …

Obituary: J. Knox Jones, Jr., 1929-1992, James S. Findley, Clyde Jones, Hugh H. Genoways, Elmer C. Birney, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

J. Knox Jones, Jr., was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, March 16, 1929, the eldest of the three sons of Virginia Bowen Jones and James Knox Jones. Knox passed away at his home in Lubbock, Texas, on November 15, 1992, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Effects Of Octopamine Agonists And Antagonists On Corpus Allatum Syntesis Of Juvenile Hormone In The House Cricket, Acheta Domesticus, Jared James Patterson

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Oochoristica Scelopori (Cestoda: Linstowiidae) In A Grassland Population Of The Bunch Grass Lizard, Sceloporus Scalaris (Phrynosomatidae), From Arizona, Stephen R. Goldberg, Charles R. Bursey, Chris T. Mcallister, Hobart M. Smith, Quynh A. Truong

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Douglas-Fir Foliage Age Class On Western Spruce Budworm Oviposition Choice And Larval Performance, Kimberly A. Dodds, Karen M. Clancy, Kathryn J. Leyva, David Greenberg, Peter W. Price

Great Basin Naturalist

The western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman) prefers to feed on flushing buds and current-year needles of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco). Budworm larvae will not typically consume older age classes of needles unless all current-year foliage is depleted. We tested the following null hypotheses: (1) budworm larvae can feed on foliage with a wide range of qualities (i.e., current 1-, 2-, or 3-year-old needles) without measurable effects on fitness; and (2) budworm adults do not show any oviposition preference linked to the age of the foliage they fed on as larvae. We used both laboratory and field …

Selecting Wilderness Areas To Conserve Utah's Biological Diversity, Diane W. Davidson, William D. Newmark, Jack W. Sites Jr., Dennis K. Shiozawa, Eric A. Rickart, Kimball T. Harper, Robert B. Keiter

Great Basin Naturalist

Congress is currently evaluating the wilderness status of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands in Utah. Wilderness areas play many important roles, and one critical role is the conservation of biological diversity. We propose that objectives for conserving biodiversity on BLM lands in Utah be to (1) ensure the long-term population viability of native animal and plant species, (2) maintain the critical ecological and evolutionary processes upon which these species depend, and (3) preserve the full range of communities, successional stages, and environmental gradients. To achieve these objectives, wilderness areas should be selected so as to protect large, contiguous …

The Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., Treasurer’S Annual Report, 12/31/95, Elizabeth Grenon

Nebraska Bird Review

Balance 1/1/95 on cash basis per bank account: Cash $1,593.16 Investments $13,500.00 Total $15,093.16

Total Receipts: Cash $9,466.13 Investments $11,354.40 Total $20,820.53

Total Disbursements: Cash $8,777.48 Investments $10,551.66 Total $19,329.14

Balance 12/31/95: Cash $2,281.81 Investments $14,302.74 Total $16,584.55

Nebraska Bird Review (March 1996) 64(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

NOU Treasurer's Annual Report ... 2

First Record of Glaucous-winged Gull for Nebraska ... 3

Winter Field Report, December-February 1995-96 ... 5

Nebraska Christmas Bird Count for 1995 ... 17

1996 Survey of Bald and Golden Eagles in Nebraska ... 26

1992, 1993 (Fifth) Report of the NOU Records Committee ... 30

Notes on Bird Sightings in Nebraska ... 35